Sensitization to industrial enzymes in enzyme research and production

Vanhanen, Markku; Tuomi, Timo; Nordman, Henrik; Túpasela, Outi; Holmberg, Peter C.; Miettinen, Minja; Mutanen, Pertti; Leisola, Matti

doi:10.5271/sjweh.236

Cited by 34 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Contrary to common earlier findings,3 5 7-9 19 atopy was not associated with sensitisation to enzymes. Likewise, atopy was not found to be a significant risk factor in a recently published study from a Danish enzyme factory 20.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry

Vanhanen

2000

Occup Environ Med

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Objectives-To assess the prevalence of enzyme sensitisation in the detergent industry. Methods-A cross sectional study was conducted in a detergent factory. Sensitisation to enzymes was examined by skin prick and radioallergosorbent (RAST) tests. 76 Workers were tested; 40 in manufacturing, packing, and maintenance, and 36 non-exposed people in management and sales departments. The workers were interviewed for work related respiratory and skin symptoms. Total dust concentrations were measured by a gravimetric method, and the concentration of protease in air by a catalytic method. Results-Nine workers (22%) were sensitised to enzymes in the exposed group of 40, whereas none were sensitised in the non-exposed group. All the sensitised people had symptoms at work; all had rhinitis and one had asthma. Protease concentrations were generally <20 ng/m 3 , but occasional peak values up to 80 ng/m 3 were detected in the packing and maintenance tasks, and high values of >1 µg/m 3 in the mixing area. Conclusion-Despite the use of encapsulated enzyme preparations, high enzyme concentrations in workplace air are possible, resulting in a higher risk of sensitisation than expected. (Occup Environ Med 2000;57:121-125) Keywords: detergent enzymes; occupational exposure; allergyThe detergent industry was the first to give rise to the protease enzyme allergy problem in the late 1960s.1-5 Later, other enzymes, such as -amylases and cellulases emerged as sensitisers-for example, in the baking industry. [6][7][8][9] In the detergent industry, the allergy problem has been considered to be under control since the mid-1970s, due to development of encapsulated protease preparations and improvements in industrial hygiene.4 10 11 It was, however, reported that sensitisation could not be totally prevented by encapsulation of enzymes, 12 and some cases of respiratory allergy have been reported. 13 Recently, new enzymes have been introduced in the detergent industry-such as lipases in the late 1980s, and later cellulases and -amylases-although the proteases derived from Bacillus subtilis are still the most important enzymes. Because of the history of enzyme allergy and the increased range of enzymes in the field, we assessed the prevalence of sensitisation to enzymes and the levels of exposure to protease in a detergent factory. Material and methods DETERGENT FACTORYThe study was carried out in a factory producing laundry detergents and automatic dish washing detergents. The factory had been operating since the 1960s. New facilities were built in the mid-1980s. Detergents for laundry and dish washing were produced in separate departments. The manufacturing of laundry detergents includes mixing of raw materials with water and subsequent spray drying of the slurry, followed by addition of heat labile components such as enzymes. The addition of enzyme to the hopper took place manually a few times in a shift. Further mixing to the detergent was automated. The packing machines were controlled and operated by packers. The factory had mod...

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry

Vanhanen

2000

Occup Environ Med

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“…A few studies have investigated exposure-response relationships (Baur et al 2002;Brisman et al 2004;Sander et al 1998;Vanhanen et al 1996Vanhanen et al , 1997Houba et al 1996). In the latter investigation, of 178 Dutch bakers, a positive association between the air concentration of a-amylase in bakeries and the frequency of sensitisation (starting at concentrations as low as 0.25 ng/m 3 ) was found.…”

Section: Exposure-response Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Enzymes as occupational and environmental respiratory sensitisers

Baur

2005

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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A literature review shows that airborne enzymes occurring in the general environment and in purified form in industrial production have a high allergenic potential to the airways, causing rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma. It can be assumed that this also applies to the increasing number of enzymes manufactured by the cloning of fast-growing genetically engineered microorganisms. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate exposure-response relations for IgE-mediated sensitisation and airway disorders. Atopic individuals are more susceptible to enzyme allergy than non-atopic individuals. Skin prick testing and measurement of specific IgE antibodies have been shown to be useful diagnostic tools. Very high concentrations of proteases may lead to emphysema. There is also evidence for non-allergic airway inflammation by proteases, probably via protease-activated receptor-2 and intracellular Ca(2+) release. It is recommended that all enzymes be classified with the risk phrase R42 (may cause sensitisation by inhalation) and that their inhalative uptake be totally avoided.

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“…By comparison, we found a prevalence of sensitisation of 22% in 40 exposed process workers in a detergent factory,10 and 20.6% in a group of workers “often exposed” and 11.8% of workers “occasionally exposed” in two enzyme producing plants 6. A Danish study showed that 36% of employees in enzyme production had a RAST value above the detection limit of 0.5 sorbent units (SU) and 8.8% developed clinical enzyme allergy 12.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Before our study, one case of rhinitis induced by cellulase in an animal feed factory was diagnosed by us at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 1992 (Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases). Phytase, which has been developed solely for use in animal feed, was first shown to cause allergy in enzyme production by Vanhanen et al 6. Recently, Doekes et al reported allergic sensitisation to phytase as a probable cause of work related asthmatic symptoms in a factory where animal feed additives were produced 7.…”

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confidence: 99%

Sensitisation to enzymes in the animal feed industry

Vanhanen

Tuomi²,

Tiikkainen³

et al. 2001

Occup Environ Med

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Objectives-To assess the prevalence of enzyme sensitisation in the animal feed industry. Methods-A cross sectional study was conducted in four animal feed factories, where several enzymes had been used in powder form for 7-9 years. Before this study, enzymes in liquid form had started to be used. Sensitisation to enzymes was examined by skin prick and radioallergosorbent (RAST) tests. Altogether 218 workers were tested; 140 people in various tasks in manufacturing, where exposure to various organic dusts and to enzymes was possible, and 78 non-exposed oYce workers. The workers were interviewed for work related respiratory and skin symptoms. Total dust concentrations were measured by a gravimetric method. The concentrations of protease and -amylase were measured with catalytic methods and that of xylanase with an immunological method. Results-Ten workers (7%) were sensitised to enzymes in the exposed group of 140, whereas none were sensitised in the non-exposed group. Six of the sensitised people had respiratory symptoms at work: two of them especially in connection with exposure to enzymes. . On average, highest xylanase and -amylase concentrations were found in the various manufacturing sites, whereas the highest protease concentrations were found in areas of high total dust. Conclusions-Industrial enzymes may cause allergies in the animal feed industry. There is a need to assess exposure to enzymes at various phases of production, and to minimise exposures. (Occup Environ Med 2001;58:119-123)

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Sensitization to industrial enzymes in enzyme research and production

Cited by 34 publications

References 12 publications

Risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry

Risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry

Enzymes as occupational and environmental respiratory sensitisers

Sensitisation to enzymes in the animal feed industry

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